26) Chapter

The grand chamber was quiet, save for the faint rustle of the evening breeze filtering through the intricately carved lattice windows.

Mekala sat near the open balcony, staring at the vast gardens below. The glow of the setting sun bathed her in warm light, but her heart was anything but calm.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—curiosity, guilt, confusion—all circling around one person: Vishnu

A soft knock broke her reverie. Before she could respond, a maid entered, bowing deeply.

"Devi, Varuna has come to see you. He says it's urgent."

Mekala frowned but nodded, her hands instinctively tightening on the edge of her seat. Moments later, Varuna entered, his expression calm yet grave.

He approached her with deliberate steps and bowed respectfully before speaking.

"Mekala, I bring news that concerns the kingdom—and you personally."

Mekala's heart skipped a beat. She gestured for him to continue, though her voice remained steady.

"Speak, Varuna. What is it?"

Varuna's face darkened as he leaned closer, his tone dropping to a near-whisper.

"The spies have confirmed movement from the Chalukyan royal house. The younger prince, Vishnu-vardana, is here, in Mahishmati."

Mekala's eyes widened, her breath hitching, but she quickly masked her reaction. Varuna didn't notice as he pressed on.

"He's here under the guise of a messenger with his friend, but we i mean me and your father know his real purpose. The priest at the shrine—the one we turned to our side—has lured him into a trap. Even now, the prince walks toward his doom."

For a moment, the room spun around her. Her fingers gripped the armrest of her chair tightly as the realization hit her like a thunderbolt: the Chalukyan prince... was Vishnu.

The man she'd shared a harrowing journey with, the man whose gentle strength and humor had stirred something deep within her, was her kingdom's sworn enemy. She felt the blood drain from her face.

"Devi, are you all right? Should I call for a physician?"Varuna asked nervously.

Mekala snapped out of her daze, her voice was sharp.

"No. Leave me."

"But—" Varuna hesitated.

"I said LEAVE!"

Startled by the sudden ferocity in her tone, Varuna bowed quickly and exited the room, his footsteps echoing faintly as he left.

As soon as the door closed, Mekala stood abruptly, her chest heaving as emotions she could no longer suppress erupted to the surface. The maids, sensing her distress, stepped forward tentatively.

"Get out! All of you! Leave me alone!" Mekala said spinning toward them, her voice trembling with rage.

The maids, terrified, scrambled out of the chamber, closing the door behind them. As silence fell, Mekala sank to the floor, her regal composure shattering. Her hands trembled as she buried her face in them, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Her voice broke as she whispered to herself, the words carrying both despair and longing.

"How could fate be so cruel? Why did it have to be him.. Why him?"

She clenched her fists, her tears falling faster. Her mind was at war with itself: loyalty to her kingdom, to her father, to her people... against the undeniable connection she felt to Vishnu.

The way he had stood by her side, the way his quiet confidence and humor had made her heart flutter—it was unbearable to reconcile that man with the enemy she was sworn to oppose

Her sobs echoed in the empty chamber, a princess torn between duty and the first stirrings of love. The walls seemed to close in on her as she cried, her emotions overwhelming her. For the first time in her life, the weight of her title felt suffocating.

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Varuna stood outside the ornate chamber doors, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. The echoes of Mekala's sharp commands to the maids still rang in his ears. He had never seen her so volatile, so vulnerable.

Though loyal to the Kalachuri kingdom, he had always harbored a quiet admiration for the younger princess—not just for her beauty, but for her intelligence and resilience.

Yet, in this moment, she seemed fragile in a way he could not reconcile with the woman he had always known.

As the corridor fell silent, save for the faint rustling of banners swaying in the evening breeze, Varuna turned to leave, but then he heard it—a muffled sob.

He froze. He had heard cries of anguish before, from wounded soldiers on the battlefield, but this was different. This was raw, unguarded, and deeply personal.

He took a step closer to the door, careful not to make a sound, his brows knitting together in concern.

Pressing his ear lightly to the door, he could hear her voice, trembling and broken. The words were faint but laced with a torment that struck a chord in him.

"Why? Why did it have to be him? Why does fate mock me so?"

Varuna's heart sank. Who was she talking about? What had caused her such distress? He had never known the princess to waver, not even in the face of political pressure or personal challenges. To hear her like this was unsettling, to say the least.

He leaned back from the door, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tighter. Still, his mind raced with questions. Was it the news he had delivered about the Chalukyan prince? But why would that trouble her so deeply.

Inside the chamber, Mekala's sobs grew softer but no less anguished. Varuna's jaw tightened as he struggled with the urge to knock, to offer some sort of comfort.

"Whatever this is, I will not let it break you, Mekala. You are stronger than this."

Yet, even as he said the words, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Whatever was tormenting her, it wasn't something he could fight with a sword or shield. For the first time, he felt powerless in his role as her protector.

Farther down the hallway, he glanced back at the closed door one last time, hesitating. But then he steeled himself and continued on his way, resolving to keep a closer watch on her in the days to come.

Inside the chamber, Mekala lay curled on the floor, her tears soaking into the silken folds of her saree. She clutched her knees to her chest, her body trembling as she whispered to herself, over and over.

"What do I do? Vishnu... why does it have to be you?"